Anthurium plant `A8`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium is provided. It is a medium size plant, suitable for production in 12.5 cm to 20 cm pots from a single tissue culture produced microcutting `A8` has very vigorous growth; early and abundant branching; full and symmetrical growth habit; early, abundant year-round flowering. Prominent, bright red, highly glossy spathes, typical from the onset of flowering, are held above and among leaves on strong peduncles and remain on the plant for several months past maturity. Relatively light spadixes contrast with the spathes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct Anthurium cultivarcharacterized by the following combination of repeatedly observedtraits:

1. Medium size,

2. full plant,

3. vigorous growth,

4. early and abundant branching,

5. early, abundant and year-round flowering,

6. Inflorescences typical from the onset of flowering,

7. bright red, highly glossy spathes contrasting with relatively lightspadixes;

and primary selected for those characteristics being so selected fromthe progeny of the cross stated below grown near Altha, Fla. in acultivated area.

ORIGIN AN ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program carried outat Oglesby Plant Laboratories, Inc., near Altha, Fla. The female parentwas a selected seeding of Anthurium andreanum designed "AR 44" and themale parent was a selected clone of Anthurium `Ruth Morat`. The crosswas made in 1991, the seedling was selected in 1993, and it has sincebeen reproduced by tissue culture in the vicinity of Altha, Fla. withthe characteristics stated, found to be maintained through successivegenerations.

This new cultivar has been identified as Anthurium `A8`. It is possiblethat other identification will be adopted in the trade, but the nameselected will serve for the purposes hereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimensof the plant parts of the new cultivar. The plant of `A8` wasapproximately 15 months from planting a single tissue culturedmicrocutting and was grown in a 12.5 cm pot.

In the photographs:

FIG. 1 depicts the whole plant;

FIG. 2 illustrates the mature inflorescence;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top of a mature leaf; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the bottom of a mature leaf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown nearAltha, Fla. under greenhouse conditions. These observations andmeasurements were recorded in May and June 1996 from mature plants(about 13-14 months from planting tissue cultured microcuttings) grownin 12.5 cm pots. Fully developed organs on the main stem were used formeasurements and color description, unless otherwise indicated. Colorvalues were determined on May 13, 1996 under natural, indirect light ofapproximately 600-1300 foot-candles. Color references are made to TheR.H.S. Color Chart, except where general color terms of ordinarysignificance are used.

`A8` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary with variations in environment and horticulturalpractices, such as temperature, light intensity, day length,fertilization and propagation procedure, without any change in genotype.

Parentage:

Female parent.--Selected seedling of Anthurium andreanum designated "AR44".

Male parent.--Selected clone of Anthurium `Ruth Morat`.

Propagation: Plant tissue culture.

Plant descriptions:

Growth habit.--Well branched, full plant, especially at the base,symmetrical.

Height.--Foliage 29-36 cm; with spathes 37-44 cm.

Width.--51-63 cm.

Petiole:

Size.--18.7-22.4 cm long, 4.0-4.8 mm in diameter immediately belowgeniculum.

Geniculum.--2.6-3.1 cm long, 5.3-5.7 mm in diameter at the base.

Petiole wings.--3.0-3.7 cm long, not conspicuous.

Color.--Geniculum: Front: 146 A (yellow-green), except for anapproximately 1 mm wide, often red-brown, shallow, longitundinal groovein the center of geniculum. Groove coloration gradually changes to thatof surrounding geniculum. Back: 144 A (yellow-green). Below geniculum:Front: 146 A-B with some 144 A (both yellow-green). Back: 144 A(yellow-green); base darker than 144 A with some 137 C (green). Petiolewings: 146 A-B with some 144 A (both yellow-green).

Leaf blade:

Position.--Midrib of most leaf blades is horizontal or down fromhorizontal.

Shape.--Ovate, usually slightly asymmetric; tip acuminate, often curled;base cordate. Leaves produced at early stage of plant development havemore truncate or obtuse bases. The proximal part of the blade on eachside of the midrib often slightly curves upward. Margin wavy, entire.

Size.--21.5-25.2 cm long; 14.1-16.0 cm wide; length to width ratio1.5-1.7:1.

Texture.--Thick, smooth, glossy; young leaves polished.

Veins.--Prominent near the base, less conspicuous near the tip.

Color.--Newly unrolled: Adaxial: lighter and more yellow 147 A, darkerand more green than 146 A (both yellow-green), Veins: proximal more thanhalf of midrib and proximal sections of the two adjacent primary veinslighter than the surrounding tissue (between 146 B and 144 A --yellow-green). Abaxial: 146 A-B (yellow-green). Veins: proximal morethan half of midrib between 146 C and 144 A-B (yellow-green). Otherprimary veins similar to or slightly lighter in color than thesurrounding tissue. Mature Leaf: Adaxial: Much darker than 147 A(yellow-green). Veins: proximal more that half of midrib and proximalsections of the two adjacent primary veins 146 A-B (yellow-green).Abaxial: 146 A and 147 B (both yellow-green). Veins: midrib 144 A-Bexcept for the distal portion; proximal sections of other primary veinsbetween 146 B-C and 144 A (all yellow-green).

Scale leaves:

Covering lateral bud penultimate to mature inflorescence.--Length:8.5-12.0 cm; rolled longitudinally. Color: Abaxial: 144 A(yellow-green).

Between peduncle and main stem.--Length: 3.5-5.0 cm. Color: Abaxial: Twoelevated ribs 144 B (yellow-green). Area between and beside ribs lighter(144 D, 145 B yellow-green) and a little translucent. Tip and narrowedges of the ribs and of the scale leaf sometimes partially brown.

Inflorescence:

Arrangement.--Spathes above and between leaves on strong peduncles.Spadix low on the spathe. Ratio spathe length to spadix length 1.6-18.1.

Development.--In a closed bud midrib is usually approximately 30°-60°above horizontal. When spathe unrolls pistils start protruding from theproximal approximately 1/3 of spadix and spathe quickly becomesreflexed. At inflorescence maturity, proximal spathe midrib usuallyapproximates horizontal positions, spadix usually forms an angle withspathe midrib of approximately 50°-70° and pistils are visible onapproximately 3/4 of the spadix.

Peduncle:

Size.--29-33 cm long; 3.8-4.5 mm in diameter immediately below spathe.

Stipe.--Very short (not measurable).

Color.--Front: 144 A with some 146 A-B, especially in the proximal part(both yellow-green). Back: 144 A (yellow-green) distally; proximal morethan half is darker than 144 A.

Spathe:

Shape.--Wide ovate; first spathes more deltoid. At inflorescencematurity, spathes almost flat; rarely the lobes slightly curvefrontwards. Lobes extend 0.8-1.4 cm past peduncle. Sometimes marginslightly wavy. In the distal half spathe margin often slightly curvesbackwards except for the tip. Tip cuspidate with aristate tendencies,margin rolling frontwards; base cordate, sometimes slightly asymmetric;

Size (flattened).--7.3-9.1 cm long, 6.5-8.2 cm wide; length to widthratio 1.0-1.1.

Texture.--Thick, very glossy; young spathes highly polished. Very slightpuckering in the proximal half; the surface of the distal half almostflat. Small raised areas are scattered in an irregular pattern on thefront side, especially in the proximal half.

Color.--Closed bud: 51 A, 53 C-D (both red).

Newly unrolled spathe.--Up to 1 mm wide stripe along the margin on bothsides of spathe is darker than remainder of the spathe -- between 53 A(red) and 187 A (greyed-purple). Front: Between 46 A and 45 A (bothred). Back: similar to 53 B-C with some resemblance to 47 A andsometimes to 45 D (all red).

Mature inflorescence.--Up to 1 mm wide stripe along the margin on bothsides of spathe is darker than remainder of the spathe -- similar to 53A (red) with some resemblance to 187 A (greyed-purple). Front: 45 A orsometimes a little darker (red). Back: mixture of 47 A, 51 A, 45 D (allred).

Spadix:

Shape.--Columnar, slightly tapering in the distal section.

Size.--4.2-5.5 cm long, 7.0-8.6 mm in diameter (with the pistils).

Color.--Young inflorescence with newly unrolled spathe: Proximal1/3-1/2, where pistils start protruding, 51 D, 50 D and 54 D (all red)with some 50 C and 51 C at base and top of this zone; it merges with 34D (orange-red) of the distal zone. Mature inflorescence: Proximal zone,with developed pistils, between 36 D and 49 D (both red) at the base;distally becoming slightly darker with some 56 A-B (red) and eventualyblending with a short zone, composed of 51 C, D, 54 C, D, and 50 C, D(all red), in which pistils start protruding. The most distal zonecomprises orange-red (34 C, 35 B) and red (37 A, 38 A, 39 B, 41 C, 42 D,44 D) colors. After all pistils have developed distinct color zones areno longer present -- a mixture of 36 D and 49 D at the proximal endgradually merges with a mixture of 51 D and 56 A (all red) at the distalend.

Botanical flower:

Perianth.--Very well visible between pistils, segments united.

Pistil.--Small, similar in color to perianth; stigmas minute.

Stamens.--Not visible before pollen release.

Flowering: Flowers naturally in 12.5 cm pots, about 10-11 months fromplanting tissue cultured microcuttings. Continuous year-round flowering.At approximately 13 months four to seven inflorescences visible aboveand among leaves.

Spathe longevity: Spathe retains red color for approximately three tofour weeks following appearance of bud above or among leaves and thengradually turns green. It remains on the plant enhancing its ornamentalvalue for up to seven months.

Roots: Roots developed above soil line are thick, fleshy andnon-branching. Young roots are red or red-brown except for yellow-greendistal zone. Older roots or root segments are grey or grey-brown.Numerous roots developed below soil line are thick, fleshy, cream incolor with yellow root caps.

Disease and insect resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases orinsects noted to date.

Comparison with the known cultivars:

The new cultivar can be compared to the known cultivar `Ruth Morat` U.S.Plant Pat. No. 8,540 a/k/a `Lady Ruth` and `75-10` U.S. Plant Pat. No.9,355 a/k/a `Red Hot` (as shown in table 1). The comparisons were madeon plants grown under similar conditions in a greenhouse near Altha,Fla.

`A8` is distinguished from both cultivars by its more vigorous growth;earlier flowering; more prominent, larger, brighter red, glossierspathes with greater longevity; lighter spadixes that contrast strongerwith the spathes and larger leaf blades.

`A8` is further distinguished from `75-10` by a better qualityinflorescences at the beginning of flowering; lower position of spatheson the plant; fuller growth habit; green peduncles and petioles; lightercolor of newly unrolled leaf blades and less upright spathes.

`A8` is further distinguished from `Ruth Morat` by its more abundantflowering; stronger peduncles; cordate leaf blade bases.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Anthurium `A8` with                                             the cultivars `Ruth Morat` and `75-10`.                                                     `A8`   `Ruth Morat`                                                                            `75-10`                                        ______________________________________                                        leaf blade length (cm)                                                                        21.5-25.2                                                                              20.9-23.3 19.0-20.1                                  leaf blade width (cm)                                                                         14.1-16.0                                                                              10.6-11.5 10.2-11.5                                  spathe length (cm)                                                                            7.3-9.1  6.3-6.8   3.3-5.2                                    spathe width (cm)                                                                             6.5-8.2  5.2-5.9   3.5-5.0                                    #inflorescences at 10.5 months                                                                2-3*     0         0-1**                                      #inflorescences at 13 months                                                                  4-7      3-4       3-6                                        ______________________________________                                         *good quality                                                                 **deformed                                                               

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named `A8`,substantially as described and illustrated herein, characterizedparticularly as to novelty by its vigorous growth; early and abundantbranching; symmetrical growth habit; early, abundant year-roundflowering; inflorescence typical from the onset of flowering; prominent,bright red, glossy, long lived spathes held on strong peduncles aboveand among leaves and relatively light spadixes contrasting with thespathes.